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Eating and drinking strategies for people with dementia
People with dementia can often experience difficulties with eating and drinking as their dementia progresses. Problems with coordination, movements, recognising food/drink, appetite and communication can all make mealtimes difficult. Every person with dementia is an individual and their difficulties may vary in severity and onset. The following are some ideas that can be useful to make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable for both you and the person with dementia. These strategies are also important to ensure the person gets enough to eat and drink.
Setting up the Environment
- Try to reduce any distractions, e.g. turn off the TV/radio and clear the table of any clutter.
- Try to give as many cues and prompts that it is time to eat:
- if possible, sit the person up to a table
- allow the person to see the plate of food
- allow the person to smell the food
- use gestures and words to draw the person’s attention to the food
- Allow plenty of time for the meal so you don’t feel rushed.
- Always sit the person upright when eating or drinking.
- Try using contrasting colours, e.g. a white plate on a red table mat.
Food and Drink
- Offer regular snacks between meals to boost nutritional intake.
- Try offering:
- sour drinks, for example lemon squash
- cold drinks from the fridge
- fizzy drinks
- strong flavours when cooking
- finger foods (food that does not require cutlery) for the person to pick up independently: for example, sandwiches, chips, sausage rolls
During Mealtimes
- Encourage the person to hold the cup themselves, if possible.
- You may need to hold the cup with them.
- Encourage the person to hold the fork/spoon themselves, if possible.
- You may need to hold the fork/spoon over their hand.
- Help the person to bring the food/drink up to their lips.
- If the person is unable to feed themselves, you can try gently touching the food/drink up to their lips to encourage them to open their mouth.
- Don’t force food/drink into the person’s mouth as it can be dangerous and will make eating/drinking an unpleasant experience.
- Give the person a normal sized mouthful of food/drink.
- Too little, and the person may not be aware of the food/drink in their mouth. Too much, and the person may struggle to swallow it.
- If the person is holding food/drink in their mouth:
- try giving a verbal prompt to “Swallow”
- try gently stroking the front of their neck whilst saying “Swallow”
- try offering an empty spoon or cup to try and trigger the swallow
- try wiping their lips with a napkin to try and trigger the swallow
- Keep giving prompts and encouragement throughout the meal.
- After eating check there is no food left in the person's mouth (including inside their cheeks and around their teeth/dentures).
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Speech and language therapy service.
About this information
Service:
Speech and language therapy
Reference:
VV/002
Approval date:
20 September 2024
Review date:
1 July 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.